Vava'u, Tonga
Tonga · Pacific
Tonga's Vava'u group is one of the only places on earth where humpback whales actively seek out encounters with in-water observers, turning July through October into something genuinely unlike anywhere else.
How this reef is doing
ⓘ How we measure thisReef state
Live science signals for this reef are still being gathered.
Coral cover
Fish life
About what a healthy reef of its kind holds.
Heat
Fishing
Open to fishing, and the water is fairly quiet.
Sources · Reef Life Survey · Global Fishing Watch and reef gravity
What you will see
23 species across the dive sites here
Pacific Double-Saddle Butterflyfish
Seen 9 months ago
at Mariners Cave Tonga
Least concern
Scissortail Sergeant
Seen 9 months ago
at Mariners Cave Tonga
Least concern
Sixbar Wrasse
Seen 9 months ago
at Swallows Cave Vavau
Least concern
Humbug Dascyllus
Seen 11 months ago
at Mariners Cave Tonga
Least concern
Humpback whale
Seen Sep 2025
at Mariners Cave Tonga
Least concern
Blue Linckia
Seen Aug 2025
at Mariners Cave Tonga
Fiji Tomato Anemonefish
Seen Aug 2025
at Mariners Cave Tonga
Blacktip reef shark
Seen Oct 2024
at Swallows Cave Vavau
Vulnerable
Green sea turtle
Seen Oct 2024
at Coral Garden Vavau
Least concern
Orangefin Anemonefish
Seen Oct 2024
at Swallows Cave Vavau
Least concern
Whitetip reef shark
Seen Sep 2024
at Coral Garden Vavau
Vulnerable
Great Frigatebird
Seen Apr 2024
at Late Island Wall
Least concern
Polynesian Wattled Honeyeater
Seen Apr 2024
at Late Island Wall
Least concern
Bigeye Jack
Seen year round
at Late Island Wall
Least concern
Bigeye trevally
Seen year round
at Swallows Cave Vavau
Least concern
Dogtooth Tuna
Seen year round
at Late Island Wall
Least concern
Sea Fan
Seen year round
at Late Island Wall
Sea snake
Seen year round
at Mariners Cave Tonga
Least concern
Spinner dolphin
Seen year round
at Mariners Cave Tonga
Least concern
Grey reef shark
Seasonal visitor
at Coral Garden Vavau
Endangered
Purple Hermit Crab
Rare sighting
at Late Island Wall
Strawberry Hermit Crab
Rare sighting
at Late Island Wall
Yellow-Lipped Sea Krait
Rare sighting
at Late Island Wall
Least concern
Dive sites
Mariners Cave Tonga
humpback whale · spinner dolphin · sea snake · scissortail sergeant
Swallows Cave Vavau
bigeye trevally · humpback whale · blacktip reef shark · scissortail sergeant
Coral Garden Vavau
whitetip reef shark · green sea turtle · grey reef shark · scissortail sergeant
Late Island Wall
dogtooth tuna · bigeye jack · sea fan · strawberry hermit crab